Tender

Audit of Data Communications Company

  • Ofgem

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-031358

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02f845

Published 16 December 2021, 10:35am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Ofgem

10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU

Email

Procurement2@ofgem.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2079017000

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKI - London

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10021

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

www.mytenders.co.uk

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

www.mytenders.co.uk

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Audit of Data Communications Company

Reference number

2021-091

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79212000 - Auditing services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Ofgem is seeking an independent auditor to annually assess the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) contract management and procurement activities.

The DCC is the central communications body licensed to provide the communications, data transfer and management required to support smart metering. DCC was appointed using an outsourced service model, to manage contracted smart metering service providers. As such, external costs compose the largest proportion of DCC’s costs, and it is critical that these contracts are entered into, managed and closed out effectively and efficiently. Each year, Ofgem scrutinises DCC’s incurred and forecast costs through the annual Price Control process to determine whether these costs are economic and efficient. Alongside the cost assessment, DCC also faces financial incentives under the Operational Performance Regime (OPR).

The audit will run on an annual cycle alongside Ofgem’s annual price control process and is expected to have four main stages: evaluation, reporting, consultation and decision. The evaluation stage is expected to take six weeks, with the auditor producing an interim report for DCC to provide comment. In this stage, the auditor will need to assess DCC’s commercial activity over the course of a Regulatory Year to provide a score and rationale against each supporting question against the NAO framework, covering contract management, procurement and re-procurement.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £265,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79212000 - Auditing services
  • 79212200 - Internal audit services
  • 79212300 - Statutory audit services
  • 79418000 - Procurement consultancy services
  • 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Ofgem is seeking an independent auditor to annually assess the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) contract management and procurement activities.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Option to extend for up to 12 months after the initial 3 year period.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please see attached 2021-091 Audit of Data Communications Company ITT for further details.

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria

Please see attached 2021-091 Audit of Data Communications Company ITT for further details.

three.2) Conditions related to the contract

three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract

Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2021/S 000-028886

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

18 February 2022

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Tender must be valid until: 17 June 2022

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

18 February 2022

Local time

12:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.3) Additional information

Please see attached 2021-091 Audit of Data Communications Company ITT for further details.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=224806.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

(MT Ref:224806)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Public Procurement Review Service

Cabinet Office

London

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3450103503

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit